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Sanford's last address is tonight
January 20, 2010
Sanford's last address is tonight
Embattled governor focusing on 3 objectives in final year in office
By JOHN O'CONNOR
Gov. Mark Sanford entered office in 2003 with a long to-do list of reforms, restructuring and other changes - all laid out in his first State of the State speech.
Sanford delivers his final State of the State tonight with limited time left in office and politically limited after a bruising, unsuccessful fight over accepting federal stimulus money and the admission of an extramarital affair last year.
As a result, said spokesman Ben Fox, this year's State of the State will have limited goals.
Sanford will not release his speech until just prior to delivering it, but in speeches to civic groups the past several months - most recently to the Business and Industry Political Education Committee last week - Sanford has focused on three goals for his final year in office:
- Employment Security Commission reform, making it a Cabinet agency. S.C. businesses likely will have to repay $1 billion in federal unemployment benefits loans, and Sanford said the agency should be more accountable.
- Limiting state budget growth by imposing a cap on spending, preventing deep budget cuts when revenues flag
- Restructuring government to be more efficient, including creating a Department of Administration
Sanford will also likely touch on his five-day June disappearance and later admission of an extramarital affair, possibly reiterating an apology delivered in public and private for months.
"We want to focus on those rifle shots," Fox said of Sanford's three goals. Sanford has a rare opportunity, Fox said, given the poor economy and the progress of some of his proposals in the Legislature.
Many in the Legislature called for Sanford's resignation, and House lawmakers officially rebuked him last week. Some think Sanford should say he's sorry once more in a statewide forum.
"I would hope that the governor would apologize for his past actions," said House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, "and the embarrassment he has brought on South Carolina."
Ott said he hopes Sanford advocates for comprehensive statewide tax reform. Many Democrats and Republicans have complained a panel currently evaluating the tax code has been hamstrung by its scope, ignoring a 2006 statewide property tax reform law.
Others are listening for signs Sanford has changed his ways and is willing to work with lawmakers.
"I'm waiting to see whether or not that's going to be different than what we've seen in the past," said House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington. Bingham said Sanford should address his Argentina trip, but not dwell on it.
"The focus is the state of the state, not the state of Gov. Sanford," Bingham said.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield, R-Greenville, said he hoped Sanford's speech would embrace legislative priorities. In the past, Sanford would criticize lawmakers for not accepting his proposals. Sanford could earn good will, Bedingfield said, by throwing his support behind lawmakers' plans.
Top issues, Bedingfield said, are job creation and economic development.
But Sen. John Land, D-Clarendon, said no matter what Sanford says, it's likely few in the Legislature will pay much heed.
Short of announcing a major policy change - such as supporting an increase in the cigarette tax and using the money for health care - Land said the speech would likely fall flat.
"I have a sense that this General Assembly really doesn't want to hear anything from him," said Land, the Senate minority leader.
"This could be his hardest State of the State. I don't think he's got anything left. All of his ideas have been rejected."
